Over the years, occupational health (OH) has been one core sector that has ensured work has progressed as it should while every personnel maintains the required physical, mental, and social health and wellness status in the workplace. These exploits are not separable from some of the designated activities of the occupational health sector. 

Meanwhile, almost everything you could think of is revolving, and so is OH. In the nearest future, some of the trends and predictions to turn the industry around positively are: 

Remote Monitoring and Telemedicine 

With advancements in technology, occupational health service providers (OHSPs) will increasingly use remote monitoring and telemedicine to provide care to employees. With the right technology, OHSPs can track employees whose health credentials are expiring and will soon require renewals.

Focus on Mental Health 

Occupational health service providers will emphasise addressing mental health concerns among employees, as stress and burnout continue to be major issues. Beyond ailments or past health records that can affect employees physically at work, OHSPs will now focus on mental health records and how the recurrence can be avoided among employees.

Integration With AI and Machine Learning 

Service providers will use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their services, such as through predictive analytics and early warning systems; health hazards could be predicted, and every required measure will be put in place to abate or stop it.

Emphasis on Prevention and Wellness 

Through programs such as health screenings, wellness initiatives, and ergonomic assessments, occupational health service providers will focus on preventing injuries and illnesses before they occur rather than just attending to them after they happen.

Greater Use of Wearable Technology 

Wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, will be increasingly used to monitor employee health and provide real-time feedback on risk factors. This helps to avoid any time-taking process and deliver prompt results for proactive responses.

Increased Use of Virtual Reality 

Virtual reality will be used to provide training, education, and even treatment for work-related conditions.

Greater Use of Data and Analytics 

Big data has gained the main stage in recent times. Occupational health will not shy away from leveraging how data can be analysed to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions. Service providers will use data and analytics to gain insights into employee health and safety and identify and address workplace risks.

As an OHSP, how can you upgrade your service delivery with these trends?

1. Remote monitoring and telemedicine with a solution like Seamfix Care can benefit occupational health providers by allowing them to reach more employees and provide care more efficiently while reducing the need for in-person visits.
2. An emphasis on mental health can benefit providers by improving employee well-being, reducing absenteeism and presenteeism, and enhancing productivity.
3. Integration with AI and machine learning can benefit providers by allowing them to more quickly and accurately identify potential health risks and improve their services’ efficiency.
4. A focus on prevention and wellness can benefit providers by reducing the number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace, which can lower healthcare costs and improve employee productivity.
5. Greater use of wearable technology can benefit providers by providing them with real-time data on employee health and fitness, which can help to identify potential risks and improve overall health outcomes.
6. Increased use of virtual reality can benefit providers by providing training and education to employees and also allowing employees to recover from injuries more quickly.
7. Greater use of data and analytics can benefit providers by giving them insights into employee health and safety and allowing them to identify and address risks in the workplace more effectively.